Drive our program performance and excellence to improve outcomes for the children of Papua New Guinea (PNG). We are seeking an experienced Program Development and Quality (PDQ) Director to guide our team in delivering programs across the various priority thematic areas. You will provide a key role in defining and pursuing the strategic direction and leadership support to Save the Children in PNG – ensuring the relevance, strategic coherence, and impact of our programs for children. You will work closely with the Program Operations Director (POD) to strengthen program integration and ensure our work is delivering measurable impact that is communicated to our stakeholders and partners. We are looking for big-picture thinkers who are also willing to roll up their sleeves to ensure the success of long-term, targeted impact for children.

We’ve been supporting communities in Papua New Guinea for nearly 50 years, working across all regions, and are committed to be a platform for transformative and lasting change for children, their families and their communities.

A place to make a difference:

In this full-time, maximum-term position, based in Port Moresby, you will work to ensure overall program quality delivery of Save the Children’s development and emergency response programs in PNG. You will be part of our Senior Management Team and report to the Country Director.

You will make a difference by:

· Leading the development of high-quality country and program strategies, advocacy, and annual plans, and reports. Engaging in relevant national and global networks.

· Ensuring that programs are relevant to children in PNG and the global objectives of Save the Children.

· Leading the design and proposal development of cost effective, innovative, high-quality and child-informed emergency and development programs so that Save the Children has adequate resources.

· Ensuring the provision of high-quality technical assistance and capacity building to all PNG country office programs by managing all internal and external technical assistance (TA), including surge capacity during emergencies and ensure application of the TA protocols and tools.

· Ensuring that our work is accountable to children and other stakeholders through the establishment and managing effective accountability mechanisms and processes across the region.

A place to feel valued:

You are a sound leader with at least five (5) years of senior management experience in a similar role and preferably in an I/NGO environment. This includes demonstrated experience in health, education, protection, and/or livelihood sectors in a developing, complex country context – particularly with a child-led, participatory approach. Working experience in innovation and technology is desirable. You are flexible, resilient, and adept at managing change and thrive on working in challenging contexts. You have highly developed relationship and interpersonal skills and value collaboration and partnership.

This role requires:

· Tertiary qualification/s in a relevant and related discipline in social and international development. Master's degree is desirable.

· Minimum of 5 years’ experience in management roles within an I/NGO or similar in PNG, the Pacific, or a similar context.

· Demonstrated significant experience in Save the Children’s priority thematic sectors of health/nutrition, education, protection, and cash/livelihoods in a developing country and emergency/humanitarian context (e.g., design, obtaining funding, and Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment, and Learning (MEAL)).

· Sound program cycle management experience and ability to work in a complex organisation structure. Demonstrated management and development of diverse teams of national and international professional staffs; must be culturally sensitive.

· Proven sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think strategically and creatively, analyse and be innovative, set priorities, manage work plans and evaluate progress, and meet deadlines in a complex environment.

· Highly developed relationship building, negotiation and interpersonal skills including with national government personnel and development partners. Experience in successfully establishing and managing collaborative relationships and partnerships with counterparts.

· Conversant with diverse monitoring and evaluation methodologies, operational research approaches and integrated MEAL systems.

A place to belong:

We are diverse personalities, backgrounds and talents, embracing our differences as one strong and united team. We see and celebrate the unique value you bring to our organisation, and offer a range of rewards for your effort, including:

· Individual learning plans to help map and deliver on your career development.

· Internal employment and development opportunities

· Kids are welcome! We understand the demands of working parents and we have safe, accessible spaces where our little people can relax while their mums or dads help other children and families

· Competitive salary and benefits

· Extra leave to use in a range of ways to ensure you’re able to perform at your optimum

Follow this link for the full list of our employee benefits.

Does this sound like the place for you?

We’d love to hear from you. Submit your cover letter and resume below.

Qualified Papua New Guinean candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submissions are highly encouraged to ensure full consideration.

Applications close 11.55PM AEST, Tuesday 24^th February 2026.

Position Description – PDQ Director, PNG

We have tested our application process with diverse groups in mind, with the intent to ensure it's straightforward and accessible for all to apply. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our culture and improve our ability to reach our most vulnerable client groups. But we also know there is no one-size fits-all when it comes to recruitment - so if we didn’t quite hit the mark for you, please let us know at people.culture@savethechildren.org.au. We’re dedicated to ensuring Save the Children Australia is a place where everyone can feel supported – no matter your race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, neurodiversity, culture and beliefs.

Save the Children Australia is a child-safe organisation. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check, a Working with Children Check, and sign our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct. We also support the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

Save the Children is committed to providing and maintaining a safe working environment for its employees and client groups, consistent with our obligations under OH&S legislation.

If you are having any issues with uploading your application for this role, please contact people.culture@savethechildren.org.au for further support.